Penthouse
Ricardo Arjona
Soaring Above Memories: Ricardo Arjona's 'Penthouse'
Ricardo Arjona's song 'Penthouse' is a poetic exploration of escapism and the struggle to move on from past relationships. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who has retreated to a metaphorical penthouse in the clouds, a place where memories and the pull of gravity—symbolic of the weight of the past—cannot reach. This high vantage point represents a mental state of detachment and isolation, where the protagonist can live free from the constraints of time and chance.
The recurring theme of flight in the song suggests a desire for freedom and the act of letting go. The 'penthouse in the clouds' and the 'own planet' with its 'own solar system' are places of solace and self-imposed exile, where the protagonist can forget the pain of a lost love. However, the mention of a comet—likely representing the ex-lover—passing by triggers a descent, a momentary lapse in the effort to forget and move on. The song oscillates between the yearning to forget and the inevitable moments of remembrance that ground the protagonist back to reality.
Arjona's use of celestial imagery and the contrast between the desire to fly and the moments of falling back to earth reflect the universal human experience of dealing with heartache. The song's narrative is one of self-preservation and the continuous battle between holding on and letting go. The 'penthouse' is both a sanctuary and a prison, a place where one can hide from the past but also a reminder of the loneliness that comes with such seclusion.